Alpine Passes Trail: Stage 8

• Ridge hike between Piz Mundaun and Péz Sezner: Wonderful view of the entire Surselva - panorama as far as the eye can see.

The hike begins in Vella at the village square and the Catholic church, which was built around 1587. After leaving the village and a stretch across meadows, the trail enters the forest. Just above the ski lifts at Triel, a reservoir invites you to take a break. The crystal-clear water reflects the fir trees and the opposite peaks of Pala da Tgiern and Crap Grisch. More than half of the ascent is already done here. The ridge is finally reached via pastures with a magnificent view of the wide, south-facing Val Lumnezia. In the Middle Ages, a wall sealed off the Lugnez from the Vorderrhein valley. The old Porclas gate, also known as the “women's gate”, is still a reminder of this today. Legend has it that the women of Lugnez fought heroically during the Belmont feud in 1352, hence the name. The listed building is a symbol of the valley inhabitants' desire for freedom. You also feel wonderfully free above the valley on the ridge path towards Péz Sezner. The highest point of the hike is reached around two hours later at 2309 m above sea level.
At Alp Nova, the path branches off to the left. Further down, the village of Lumbrein is situated on a beautiful terrace. It is known for its mild, low-precipitation climate. Paths and gravel roads alternate as far as Nussaus. The last hour of the hike then leads partly along an educational hiking trail. Once you have crossed the Aua da Cavel stream, it is only a few hundred meters to the finish. Vrin is the rearmost village in Val Lumnezia. The village is characterized by the Vrin architect Gion. A. Caminada. There is a reason for this: the village became a model project of the Pro Vrin Foundation in the 1980s and 90s, with the aim of strengthening the village infrastructure and stopping the strong exodus. One measure: to prevent speculation in the village, the inhabitants bought up all available building land. Caminada has been building on their behalf ever since. In 1998, Vrin was awarded the Wakker Prize for the careful integration of contemporary agricultural buildings into the time-honored village center with its densely packed, brown-burnt wooden houses.